GB2027907A - Tightening apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(12)UK Patent Application (ig)GB (11) 2 02 7 907A (21) Application No

7926999 (58) Field of search (22) Date of filing GIIN 2 Aug 1979 (71) Applicant

(23) Claims filed SPS Technologies Inc

2 Aug 1979 Box 608 Benson East Priority data Jenkintown 932061 Pennsylvania 19046 8 Aug 1978 United States of America (72) Inventor Angelo L Tambini (74) Agents Walford Et Hardman Brown (30) (31) (32) (33) United States of America (US) (43) Application published 27 Feb 1980 (51) INT CL' G01 L 5/24 B25B 23/142 (52) Domestic classification G1N 1A3A 1A6 1D2A 1D2B 1D8 1M3 3S1A 3S1 B 3V2 4C 41) 4E 7F 7,1 7T1A AHF (56) Documents cited GB 1527186 GB 1526948 GB 1434726 US 4102182A DE 2541928A (54) Tightening apparatus (57) Apparatus for tightening a joint assembly including a fastener assembly to its yield point includes a wrench (10), for example an operator-powered wrench, and a control circuit (12) for detecting a phenomenon indicating that the joint assembly in which the fastener as- sembly is installed has been tightened to its yield point. The control circuit (12) includes checking means (84) for determining that the fastener assembly is being tightened to ensure that when the phenomenon is detected, the joint assembly has been tightened to the yield point. The checking means, which is applicable to hand wrenches, more especially to ratchet wrenches, wherewith torque may be applied intermittently, ensures that detection of the yield point (Le. a reduction in the torquerotation gradient from its maximum value) takes place only while torque of at least a certain value is being applied, or while angular displacement in the tightening direction is taking place, or both.

ERRATA SPECIFICATION NO 2027907A

Page 6, line 9 1, for different read difference Page 7, line 61, delete whole line Page 7, line 62, delete input AND gate 88 THE PATENT OFFICE 20 October 1982 -77 2V 72 Ar Cyd 1r, c 7& IS /1 16 c 1 GB 2 027 907A 1 SPECIFICATION

Tightening apparatus The invention relates to apparatus for tightening a joint assembly including a fastener assembly to its yield point or other predetermined tightened condition, and, more particularly, to operator-powered apparatus or similar apparatus wherein the tightening force is applied periodically.

Recent advances in the art have provided generally satisfactory methods and apparatus for determining when joints including fastener assemblies have been tightened to the yield point. For example, British Patent Nos. 1434726 and 1526948 disclose such a method and apparatus, and British Patent Nos. 1533923 and 1533921 also disclose such a method and apparatus including checking means for determining certain easily measurable tightening characteristics of the fastener assembly after it has been tightened to the yield point. In view of these advances, tightening to the yield point is becoming more widely used in the manufacture of original equipment.

The invention has for one of its primary objects, the provision of a tightening apparat- us including a wrench for applying tightening force or torque periodically and which further includes control means indicating that the joint has been tightened to its yield point or other pre-determined tightened condition. An example of such a wrench is one wherein the operator applies the tightening torque. When using such wrenches, the operator normally applies tightening torque by rotating the wrench through a limited circumferential ex- tent and then backs the wrench off the fastener and reapplies tightening torque through a similar limited rotary movement. Tightening torque may be so applied to reach the final tightened condition by several such opera- tions.

In providing such an apparatus, several other objects should also be fulfilled. The apparatus should be as simple and economical as possible. In addition, since the apparat- us includes means for processing signals representative of various tightening characteristics measured during the tightening cycle, storage means should be provided for storing these signals during the time when the opera- tor is backing the wrench off the fastener in preparation for reapplying torque. Moreover, during the noted time periods when the wrench is being backed off the fastener, the values of the signals being processed are altered to such an extent, (i.e. can drop to zero) that a false indication that the joint has been tightened to the yield point can be developed. Care must be taken to ignore such false indications.

These and other objects of the present 130 invention are accomplished by providing apparatus for tightening a joint assembly including a fastener assembly to its yield point or other pre- determined tightened condition, the apparatus comprising wrench means for applying torque to and rotating a fastener mem-' ber; control means operatively associated with said wrench means for detecting a phenomena indicative of the yield point of the joint assembly and for providing a first indicating signal when said phenomena is detected; checking means included in said control means for determining that the fastener member is being tightened and for providing a second indicating signal indicative thereof; and means responsive to said first and second indicating signals for providings a control signal.

The apparatus may include torque measur- ing means for measuring the torque being applied to the fastener and providing a signal representative thereof and incremental rotation detecting means for determining when the fastener has been rotated through predet- ermined increments of rotation and providing a signal each time the fastener has been rotated through the predetermined increment of rotation.

The torque signal and the incremental rota- tion signals are processed to determine when the instantaneous slope of a curve which can be plotted for these parameters is a predetermined percentage of the stored maximum slope of-the curve, and a signal indicative of this phenomena is developed. The checking means is responsive to the torque signal and/or the incremental rotation signals to determine that the fastener is being tightened when the phenomena indicating signal is de- veloped.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the figures of the accompa- nying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a graph illustrating the TorqueRotation curve for a fastener being tightened; Figure 2 is a graph illustrating the Preloadtime curve for a fastener being tightened by an operator-powered wrench; Figure 3 is a graph illustrating the Torque Signal-time curve for a fastener being tightened by an operator-powered wrench including means for measuring the reaction torque on the wrench; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a tightening apparatus in accordance with this invention; and Figure 5 is a sectional view in elevation of another embodiment of an angle measuring means.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention including a generally conventional longhandled ratchet wrench 10 and a control 2 GB2027907A 2 circuit 12 associated with the wrench for providing a signal indicating that the joint assembly in which the fastener is being tightened has reached its yield point. The wrench 10 is operator driven and includes a relatively long-handled member 14 having a hand grip 16 at one end and a driver head 18 at the other end. Extending from one face of the driver head 18 is a coupling member 20 on which is carried a driver tool (not shown) for engaging a fastener.

As is conventional, the coupling member 20 is coupled to the driver head 18 through a ratchet arrangement (not shown) such that the coupling member and driver tool are locked to the driver head 18 and handle member 14 during rotary motion in one direction operative to apply tightening torque and to impart rotation to tighten the fastener, and such that the driver head and handle member slip relative to the coupling member and driver tool during rotary motion in the opposite direction. Thus, an operator can grip hand grip 16, place the driver tool on a fastener and rotate the tool about an axis normal to the axis of handle member 14. Normally, the operator applies the rotary tightening motion in incremental steps by rotating the fastener through a limited circumferential extent, of the general order of about 120 degrees, and then by rotating the wrench in the opposite direction in preparation for reapplying the tightening torque. Use of a long-handled ratchet wrench is preferred because it facilitates the genera- tion of the relatively high torque required to tighten the fastener, is relatively uncomplicated and, thus, economical. Other types of wrenches including various arrangements providing higher mechanical advantage for trans- forming the operator force into the relatively high tightening torques required can be utilised, if desired.

Fixed to handle.member 14, preferably, relatively close to the driver head 18, is strain gauge means 22 of any generally conventional type capable of producing electrical output signals. The strain gauge means 22 is operative to provide a signal representative of the instantaneous torque being aplied to the fastener by measuring the bending strain in the handle member when torque is applied to the fastener. The bending strain is proportional to the bending stress in the handle and the latter is proportional to the direct torque being applied to the fastener.

Connected to the driver head 18 is angle measuring means in the form of a generally conventional potentiometer 24 operative to provide an electrical output signal which is proportional to the rotational displacement of driver head 18. As will be explained hereinafter, this signal is processed to provide signals representative of predetermined incremental rotation of the fastener being tight- ened. As is customary, potentiometer 24 includes a wiper arm portion 25 and a resistor 27 arranged for relative movement so that the output is variable. Resistor 27 is secured for movement with driver head 18 and wiper arm 25 is held in a fixed position relative to the driver head through the use of a cable 26 and a clip 28. Cable 265 should be of a type that is sufficiently flexible to be bent into a desired shape, but which is also sufficiently plastic to retain that shape once the bending force is removed. One such cable is sold under the tradename "Flexicurve" and comprises a core of lead with strips of steel on opposite faces, all covered with vinyl. Clip 28, which may conveniently be a magnet, is arranged to be placed on a fixed reference member, for ex ample, a portion of the joint assembly being tightened so that wiper arm 25 of the poten tiometer, which is directly coupled thereto, is retained in a fixed position. Because of its flexibility, the shape of cable 26 may be varied so that clip 28 can be secured to any conveniently accessible fixed reference point.

Thus, with wiper arm 25 held stationary and resistor 27 movable with driver head 18, the output signal from the potentiometer is a variable analogue signal representative of rota tional displacement of the driver head 18 and the fastener being rotated.

Another embodiment of a digital angle mea suring means 29 is illustrated in Fig. 5. This apparatus includes a bracket 31 fixed to driv en head 18 of the wrench, a high inertia disc 33 mounted on a rod 35 extending between top and bottom portions of bracket 31 on frictionless (or as low friction as possible) bearings, and a transducer 37 such as an optical detector with a built-in light source, secured to the bracket. Disc 33 includes grooves 39 (or markings) on its outer periph ery which can be detected by transducer 37 when there is relative motion between the disc and transducer during tightening. Since disc 33 has a high inertia and is mounted on low friction bearings, any rotation of the driver head containing bracket 31 fixed thereto about the axis of rotation of the disc will cause it to remain fixed, since there will be insufficient torque transmitted through the bearings to start the disc rotating. The relative motion between the disc and transducer 37, which is fixed to the driver head through bracket 31, can thus be measured by the # passage of grooves 39, giving an indication of angular movement of the wrench.

Having explained wrench 10 and having briefly explained the torque and rotation mea suring apparatus, the tightening method will be explained before describing electronic con trol circuit 12 used to process the signals. As clearly described in British Patent Specifica tions Nos. 1434726 and 1526948, it has been determined that the yield point of a joint assembly including a fastener assembly can be detected by analysing torque and rotation 3 GB2027907A 3 input information and the resultant torque rotation curve which could be plotted for the fastener being tightened. Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a typical torque-rotation curve for a threaded fastener being tightened with torque plotted along the vertical axis and rotation plotted along the horizontal axis. The curve includes an initial or pretightening re gion extending from the intersection of the torque and rotation axes to point A. In the pretightening region, mating threads of the fastener assembly have been engaged and one of the fastener members is being rotated, but the bearing face of the rotating fastener member has not contacted the adjacent face of the structural member included in the joint assembly. At point A on the curve, the struc tural members have been pulled together by the fastener assembly and actual tightening of the joint assembly commences. In this tight ening region of the curve extending from point A to point B, axial force is developed in the fastener assembly members which is ex erted on the structural members as a clamp ing force. In this region, the curve is generally linear. At point B, the limit of proportionally of the joint assembly has been exceeded and the rotation of the fastener member starts increas ing faster than the applied torque. For pur poses of this application, point B will be considered as the start of the yield region, but it will be understood that beyond point B load will be induced in the joint assembly at a significantly non-linear rate of increase. Point C corresponds to the yield point of the joint assembly and although there are alternative definitions of yield point, it can be considered to be the point beyond which strain or stretch of the fastener is no longer purely elastic. By determining when the instantaneous slope of the above-described curve is a predetermined percentage, substantially 25% to 75%, of the slope of that curve in its tightening region, the yield point can be detected. While the tighten ing region is generally linear, it may not be exactly linear and may include spikes caused by temporary seizing of the mating thread or variations in lubrication. Thus, the slope in the tightening region may not be constant, so it is desirable to detect the yield point by deter mining when the instantaneous slope of the curve is a predetermined percentage of the maximum slope of the curve, as explained in British Patent Specifications Nos. 1434726 and 1526948.

In accordance with this invention, the same general technique is utilised for determining the yield point, with the addition of certain other features to account for the intermittent application of torque and the discontinuities in the rotation of the fastener caused by the operator, as explained previously.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is a typical Pre load-Time curve for a threaded fastener being tightened with a hand-operated wrench. In 130 this curve, the preload induced in the fastener is plotted along the vertical axis and time is plotted along the horizontal axis. The corresponding points A, B and C, explained above with respect to Fig. 1, are also indicated on this curve. It can be seen that there is a first time interval from the intersection of the axes to point D in which a first application of tightening torque is made by the operator during which preload increases with time. There is also a second time interval from point D to point E, in which the wrench is being rotated in the opposite direction in preparation for reapplying the torque during which the preload in the fastener remains substantially constant. During a second application of torque by the operator from point E to point C, preload again increases with time as explained above. At the yield point C, tightening should be discontinued. It should be understood that the same time-relating characteristics are exhibited when considering rotation of the fastener against time.

Strain gauge means 22 directly measures the torque being applied to the fastener, and consequently the torque signal drops to zero during periods when the wrench is being rotated in the opposite or reverse direction prior to reapplying the torque. This is clearly illustrated between points D and E in Fig. 3, which is a plot of the torque signal versus time and which also includes corresponding points A through E described above. Thus, in utilising an operator-powered wrench includ- ing the torque-measuring means described above to determine when a joint has been tightened to its yield point by detecting changes in the torque- rotation curve, care must be taken to assure that control circuitry 12 has not detected a change in the instantaneous slope of the curve based on the fall-off of torque signals during the reverse rotation periods. Accordingly, one aspect of this invention includes a technique for determining that the fastener is actually being tightened when the control circuit indicates that the yield point has been reached. This can be accomplished by providing means for determining that the instantaneous torque signal has not dropped below a predetermined percentage of the previous maximum torque signal provided by the strain gauge means, and/or by providing means for determining that the angular rotation of the fastener is increasing. Monitoring the torque or rotation parameters in such a way will provide an indication that the fastener is or is not being tightened when the control circuit otherwise indicates that the yield point has been reached.

Referring again to Fig. 4, it can be seen that the instantaneous torque signal from strain gauge means 22 is fed to an amplifier 30 which magnifies the signal representative of instantaneous torque to a magnitude where it is compatible with the rest of the control 4 GB 2 027 907A 4 system. The amplified torque signal, that is, the output of amplifier 30, is fed to an electronic comparator 32 which receives another input from a potentiometer 34 con nected to a voltage source. The purpose of comparator 32 and potentiometer 34 is to provide a signal indicating that the fastener has been tightened into the tightening region, that is, into the respective regions between points A and B on the curves illustrated in Figs. 1-3. It should be understood that the torque-rotation relationship in the pretighten ing region is such that a false indication of the yield point could be generated. It is thus desirable to provide an indication that the fastener has been tightened to the tightening region. By setting potentiometer 34 to provide an output signal approximately equal to or slightly in excess of the instantaneous torque signal at point A on the torque-rotation curve, comparator 32 will provide an output signals when the fastener has been tightened into the tightening region of the curve. Precision in determining that point A has been reached is not required and an approximation will 90 suffice. For example, potentiometer 34 can be arranged so that it provides an output signal approximately equal to about 25% to 40% of the torque expected to be applied at the yield point, and this point on the curve will herei nafter be referred to as the "snug" point. The output signal indicating that point A has been reached is fed from comparator 32 to an amplifier 36 which outputs to an indicator means 38, such as a coloured light, to pro vide an indication to the operator that tighten ing of the joint assembly has commenced. It should be understood, of course, that a vari ety of different audible, visual or other kinds of indicating devices can be utilised in accor dance with this invention.

The output signal from comparator 32 is also fed to a generally conventional digital to analogue (D/A) convertor 40 and functions to enable the operation of the convertor as will be explained hereinafter. Convertor 40 is op erative in the angle measuring circuitry to store signals representative of the largest an gle through which the fastener has been tight ened. This storage function is accomplished by a counter conventionally incorporated in convertor 40. The signal from angle measur ing potentiometer 24 is fed to convertor 40 through a comparator 42 which is in series with a NAND gate 44 which, in turn, is in series with convertor 40. The D/A convertor receives digital signals from NAND gate 44 and is held reset by the logical signal from comparator 32 while the torque is below "snug" point A. When the snug torque value is exceeded, convertor 40 is enabled. The output from convertor 40 is fed to a buffer amplifier 46 the output of which provides the other input to comparator 42. The other input to NAND gate 44 is from an oscillator means which will be explained shortly hereinafter. At this point it is sufficient to note that the oscillator means outputs a series of square waves to NAND gate 44 before the fastener member has been tightened to snug point A. It should be understood that other oscillator means outputting pulses of different shapes could also be utilised. At the snug point, the oscillator means will provide a high output signal and therefore will output a series of square waves each time the fastener has been rotated through a predetermined angular increment of rotation in the tightening direction.

The instantaneous angle signal from potentiometer 24 is also fed to a differential amplifier 48 which receives as its other input the output from buffer amplifier 46 representative of the maximum angle signal generated and stored at any point in the tightening cycle (from D/A convertor 40). Thus, the output of differential amplifier 48 is a signal equal to the difference between the largest angle signal generated and stored and the instantaneous angle signal. The output signal from differential amplifier 48 is therefore equal to the actual incremental angle through which the fastener has been tightened. It will be remembered that the rotation of the fastener is not continuous, and that when the wrench is rotated in the opposite direction the potentiometer setting will be changed, so that the utilization of the storage function in D/A convertor 40 described above and of differen- tial amplifier 48 accommodates the changes in potentiometer settings during such opposite rotation.

From differential amplifier 48, the output signal representative of the actual incremental rotation of the fastener is fed through another comparator 50 which receives as its other input a signal from a signal generating device such as a potentiometer 52. Potentiometer 52 is set so that its output signal is equal to a signal representative of the predetermined increment of angle over which the slope of a torque-rotation curve is to be determined.

The signal from comparator 50 indicating that the fastener has been rotated through a predetermined increment of rotation, is fed to a convention gated RC oscillator means 45, which generally comprises NAND gates 54 and 58, a capacitor 55 and a resistor 57. NAND gate 54 receives a driving input from comparator 50 and a second input from NAND gate 58, and provides an output to a NAND gate 56 acting as an invertor and through capacitor 55 back to both inputs of NAND gate 58. The output of NAND gate 58 is also fed back through resistor 57 to the inputs of NAND gate 58. Capacitor 55 and resistor 57 produce a time delay which causes NAND gates 54 and 58 to act as an oscillator. Their respective values are chosen in order to determine the desired frequency of oscillation.

1 GB 2 027 907A 5 To summarise the operation of the circuitry described thus far, when tightening of the fastener commences and prior to reaching snug point A in the tightening cycle, D/A convertor 40 is held reset since it has not received an enabling signal from comparator 32. Thus, convertor 40 provides no output signal and buffer amplifier 46 also provides no output signal. Accordingly, differential am- plifier 48 is, at this point, subtracting a zero signal from buffer amplifier 46 from the relatively large output signal from potentiometer 24, and is applying a relatively large signal to comparator 50. This last- mentioned signal is larger than the predetermined incremental angle signal from potentiometer 52 so that the output of comparator 50 is a high signal which is fed to NAND gate 58 and outputs a low signal which is inverted by NAND gate 56 and fed as a high signal to NAND gate 44.

The low output signal from NAND gate 54 is also inverted by NAND gate 58 and fed as a high signal to NAND gate 54 driving its output to a high signal which is then inverted by NAND gates 56 and 58, as described 90 above. Thus, oscillatpr 45 is generating a series of square waves which are fed through inverting NAND gate 56 to NAND gate 44.

Simultaneous with the preceding, poten- tiometer 24 is feeding its increasing analogue signal to comparator 42 which also receives the zero output signal from D/A convertor 40, being held reset since it is not yet receiving a signal from comparator 32. Comparator 42 thus applies a high signal to NAND gate 44. On each low pulse from NAND gate 56, NAND gate 44 applies a pulse to D/A convertor 40 which, since it is held reset, cannot store or output the signal.

When snug point A is reached, D/A convertor 40 is enabled by a signal from comparator 32 and starts counting pulses from NAND gate 44. The convertor outputs an analogue signal to buffer amplifier 46 and, thus, to comparator 42 and differential amplifier 48. Eventually the output of convertor 40 and buffer amplifier 46 equals the instantaneous angle signal from potentiometer means 24 so that the output of comparator 42 is driven low, but immediately thereafter is driven high as the signal from potentiometer means 24 increases due to further rotation of the fastener. The output signal from buffer amplifier 46 is a function of the stored signal in conver- tor 40, which signal represents the largest angular rotation of the fastener to that point in the tightening cycle and which is fed to differential amplifier 48 along with the instantaneous angle signal from potentiometer means 24. As noted previously, differential amplifier 48 gives a signal representative of the increment of rotation through which the fastener has been driven. Initially this difference is relatively small, being less than the signal representative of the predetermined increment of rotation which is provided by potentiometer 52. Thus, the output of comparator 50 is driven low and this low signal is provided to NAND gate 54.

With the low signal input to NAND gate 54, it applies a low signal to inverting NAND gate 56, resulting in a high output signal to NAND gate 44. At this point, both inputs to NAND gate 44 are high so that it provides a low output signal to convertor 40. Thus, the signal stored in convertor 40 is not changed, nor is its output, and consequently the output of buffer amplifier 46 is not changed.

When the output of differential amplifier 48 is a signal indicating that the incremental rotation of the fastener equals the predetermined increment of rotation set by the signal from potentiometer 52, comparator 50 ap1 plies a high signal to NAND gate 54 and again starts the oscillator means running. That is, oscillator means 45 again outputs a series of square waves through inverting NAND gate 56. The cycle just described now repeats itself. Convertor 40 again receives pulses from NAND gate 44 until its stored value equals the instantaneous angular rotation signal frompotentiometer means 24. Similarly to the explanation above, when these signals are equal, the output of differential amplifier 48 is driven to zero and the output of comparator 50 is driven low, discontinuing operation of oscillator means 45 by driving the input ot NAND gate 54 low.

At this point it is noted that differential amplifier 48 is arranged with a time delay circuit including a resistor and capacitor circuit 60 in parallel altering the input from buffer amplifier 46, and with a grounded resistor 62 and a blocking diode 63 in series altering the input from potentiometer means 24. Because of the capacitor in circuit 60, the output signal from differential amplifier 48 is delayed so that the oscillator means runs slightly longer than it should. That it, addi- tional output pulses are provided through inverting NAND gate 56. The purpose of these pulses is to allow other storage circuits to stabilize as will be made clear hereinafter.

Referring now to the remainder of the circu- itry, from amplifier 30 the instantaneous torque signal is fed through a comparator 64 which provides an output through a NAND gate 66 which receives its other input from NAND gate 56. NAND gate 66 provides an output signal to a storage circuit in the form of a conventional digital to analogue (D/A) convertor 68. This arrangement is similar to the arrangement of comparator 42, NAND gate 44 and D/A convertor 40, except that convertor 68 is not held reset below snug point A in the tightening cycle. The output of convertor 68 is fed through a buffer amplifier 70 which, in turn, applies a signal to comparator 64. Below snug point A in the tightening cycle, NAND gate 56 runs continuously and 6 GB 2 027 907A 6 applies a series of square wave signals to NAND gate 66. The signal representative of instantaneous torque from amplifier 30 is slightly greater than the output of convertor 68 causing comparator 64 to provide a high output. At each low pulse from NAND gate 56, NAND gate 66 provides an output pulse to convertor 68 driving its stored signal higher and, similarly, the output of buffer amplifier 70. Thus, below snug point A, the respective signals from convertor 68 and buffer amplifier 70 follow the signal representative of instantaneous torque. At the snug point, as explained previously, NAND gate 56 provides a high output signal after a slight time delay, and comparator 64 now provides a high output signal since the signal from amplifier 30 is larger than the signal from buffer amplifier 70, so that NAND gate 66 output is driven low and no new pulses are provided to convertor 68. Thus, a signal representative of the torque at the snug point is stored in convertor 68. The slight time delay noted above, allows the stored signal to stablize.

Each time comparator 50 determines that the fastener has been rotated through a predetermined angular increment, oscillator means 45 is turned on and NAND gate 56 applies a series of square waves to NAND gate 66, so that with the output from comparator 64 high, a new signal is fed to convertor 68 and through buffer amplifier 70. In a manner similar to that already explained, NAND gate 66 pulses convertor 68 until the stored signal therein equals the signal representative of instantaneous torque. Thus, beyond snug point A in the tightening cycle, convertor 68 stores and gives a signal repre- sentative of the instantaneous torque being applied at each predetermined increment of rotation. Generally, this signal is representative of the maximum torque applied up to that time, since if the instantaneous torque signal from amplifier 30 does not exceed the stored signal, comparator 64 provides no output. The input to convertor 68 is a series of digital signals and its output is an analogue signal.

The output of buffer amplifier 70 is also fed to a differential amplifier 72 which receives as its other input the signal from amplifier 30. The output from differential amplifier 72 is fed to a comparator 74 which gives an output to a NAND gate 76 which also receives an input from NAND gate 56. NAND gate 76 provides an output signal to a storage device in the form of a conventional digital to analogue (D/A) convertor 78 similar to D/A convertors 40 and 68. Also in a manner similar to D/A convertors 40 and 68, convertor 78 applies an output to a buffer amplifier 80 which provides an output back to comparator 74. As will now be explained, D/A convertor 78 stores in digital form and gives an output in analogue form, a signal representative of the largest slope at any point in the tightening cycle of the torque- rotation curve which can be plotted for the fastener being tightened.

Below snug point A in the tightening cycle, a signal representative of instantaneous torque is fed to differential amplifier 72 from amplifier 30, and a signal approximately equal to the maximum torque applied at that point is also fed to differential amplifier 72 from convertor 60 through buffer amplifier 70. Thus, the output of differential amplifier 72 is essentially zero. With no input to comparator 74, it has no output and NAND gate 76 provides no output to D/A convertor 78. At snug point A in the tightening cycle, the inputs to comparator 74 are still essentially equal so that D/A convertor 78 still does not receive an input signal. It is noted, however, that the input from inverting NAND gate 56 to NAND gate 76 is now driven high, as previously explained. Immediately after snug point A has been reached, the signal from amplifier 30 starts to exceed the stored signal from convertor 68 and buffer amplifier 70 so that the output from differential amplifier 72 starts to increase, reflecting the different between the instantaneous torque and the stored torque, causing comparator 74 to apply a high signal to NAND gate 76. With two high inputs, NAND gate 76 provides no output to convertor 78.

As soon as comparator 50 detects that the fastener has been tightened through a predetermined increment of rotation, oscillator means 45 is again turned on and inverting NAND gate 56 applies a series of square waves to NAND gate 76. At this same time, differential amplifier 72 gives as an output a signal representative of the difference between the signal from amplifier 30, representative of the instantaneous torque being applied at that increment of rotation, and the signal from convertor 68 and buffer amplifier 70, representative of the torque at snug point A. Accordingly, the output of differential amplifier 72 is a signal representative of the slope of the torque-rotation curve over that predetermined increment of rotation. With no signal from D/A convertor 78 and buffer amplifier 80, the output of differential amplifier 72 causes comparator 74 to apply an output to NAND gate 76. On each low pulse from NAND gate 56, NAND gate 76 provides an output pulse to convertor 78. When the out- put from convertor 78 and buffer amplifier 80 equals the signal from differential amplifier 72, comparator 74 discontinues its output and the signal stored in convertor 78 is representative of the slope of the curve over that first predetermined increment of rotation.

Thereafter, at each predetermined increment when the instantaneous slope of the curve is larger than the stored previous largest slope of the curve, the process just described repeats so that convertor 78 always stores 7 and gives as an output a signal representative of the maximum slope of the torque-rotation curve up to that point in the tightening cycle.

In the preferred embodiment of the inven- tion disclosed herein, a temporary storage circuit 82 is associated with comparator 74 and includes a grounded capacitor and a resistor in parallel with the comparator and a diode between differential amplifier 72 and the input to comparator 74. Storage circuit 82 temporarily stores the signal from differential amplifier 72 to ensure that the signal representative of the slope of the curve is fed to comparator 74 and not the signal being generated when the square wave pulses are being emitted from oscillator means 45. Since these pulses also cause convertor 68 to update the stored instantaneous torque reading, the output from this convertor and its buffer amlifier 70 immediately start to increase and change the output of differential amplifier 72.

The signal in convertor 78, representative of the maximum slope of the curve at any point, and the signal from differential amplifi- er 72, representative of instantaneous slope of the curve, are fed to an additional comparator 84 to determine when the instantaneous slope is a predetermined percentage of the stored maximum slope. To accomplish this determi- nation, a divider circuit 86 is provided including a grounded resistor in parallel with comparator 84 and a resistor between buffer amplifier 80 and the input to comparator 84. Thus, the predetermined percentage between 25% to 75%, and normally 50% of the signal from convertor 78 and buffer amplifier 80 is fed to comparator 84. Accordingly, when the signal from differential amplifier 72, representative of the instantaneous slope of the curve, equals or exceeds the predetermined percentage of the stored signal fed to comparator 84, the comparator provides an output signal indicating that the instantaneous slope of the curve signal is equal to the predetermined percentage of the maximum slope of the curve signal.

If the torque has been applied continuously, the output signal from comparator 84 would indicate that the joint assembly has been tightened to its yield point. However, when the torque is applied intermittently, as with hand-operated wrench 10, the torque signal from strain gauge means 22 decreases during periods of rotation in the opposite direction, as illustrated at point D in Fig. 3. At each such point D in a tightening cycle, comparator 84 gives an output signal. Thus, there is provided checking means for determining that the yield point has been reached. Included in the circuitry is a four input AND gate 88 providing an output in the circuitry is a four input AND gate 88 providing an output signal to a flip-flop 90. AND gate 88 receives one input from comparator 32 indicating that tor- que is being applied at that moment and that GB2027907A 7 snug point A has been reached, and another input from comparator 84 indicating that the instantaneous gradient signal is a predetermined percentage of the maximum gradient signal to that point. Since a detection that the yield point has been reached can only be made at each increment of rotation, AND gate 88 also receives an input from NAND gate 44, it being remembered that this gate pro- vides output pulsies continuously below the snug point and, thereafter, only at the predetermined increments of rotation. If signals from both comparator 32 and NAND gate 44 are detected, it can be assured that the fastener has just been rotated through a predetermined increment of rotation. Also, a detection of the yield point can only be made when significant torque is being applied to the fastener. Thus, the instantaneous torque signal from amplifier 30 is fed to one input of a comparator 92 which also Ireceives at a second input a signal representative of the predetermined percentage of the maximum torque from convertor 68 and buffer amplifier 70. This is accom- plished by providing a divider circuit 94 in the form of two resistors in series between the output of buffer amplifier 70 and the input of comparator 92. One resistor is grounded and the other resistor is not grounded. Thus, one input to comparator 92 is representative of instantaneous torque and the other input is representative of the predetermined percentage of maximum torque applied up to any point in time. It has been found that the predetermined percentage should be about 66 1 /3% so that two-thirds of the maximum torque signal is fed to comparator 92. If the instantaneous torque signal is at least twothirds of the maximum torque signal, compar- ator 92 provides an output signal which is fed to the four input AND gate 88. When all four conditions are met, then all four signals are fed to AND gate 88 and it gives an output signal to flip-flop 90 indicating that the joint assembly has been tightened to its yield point. Flip-flop 90 stores the signal from AND gate 88 and drives an indicator in the form of a light 96 and/or a buzzer 98, thus indicating the operator to discontinue tightening of the joint assembly. A reset switch 100 is provided to clear D/A convertors 68 and 78 at the end of each tightening cycle.

From the preceding description, the operation of the wrench 10 and control circuit 12 should be clear. It should be noted, however, that from points D to E in the tightening cycle, as driver head 18 is rotated in the reverse direction, resistor 27 is also rotated in the reverse direction changing the signal from potentiometer 24. Thus. when tightening torque is reapplied at point E, the potentiometer signal representative of the angular rotation of the fastener which is stored in D/A convertor 40 is zero. At point D the instantaneous torque signal from strain gauge means 22 8 GB 2 027 907A 8 drops below the signal representative of the torque at snug point A which is fed to com parator 32 from potentiometer 34. According ly, comparator 32 provides no signal to con vertor 40 so that the convertor is held reset and its stored signal drops to zero. Thus, at point E in the tightening cycle, the new signal from potentiometer 24 is processed as if the tightening cycle had just begun (as previously described) in order to determine when the fastener has been rotated through predeter mined increments of rotation. One other point of note is that if point D occurs between predetermined increments of rotation, the sig nal stored in convertor 68 representative of the instantaneous torque at the last predeter mined increment of rotation is lower than the instantaneous torque applied to the fastener at point E. It should be understood that due to the mode of operation of the incremental 85 angle detecting circuitry, the incremental an gle is measured from point E, not the last increment of rotation detected. To account for this difference in torque, time delay circuit 60 associated with differential amplifier 48 comes into effect. As noted, the time delay circuit causes oscillator means 45 to provide addi tional output pulses through inverting NAND gate 56 after differential amplifier 48 detects an increment of rotation. Thus, these addi tional pulses drive NAND gate 66 and allow D/A convertor 68 to continue to receive sig nals from comparator 64, and the signal stored in D/A converter 68 is driven higher to approximate to the actual instantaneous tor que being applied to the fastener at point E.

While this is not an exact technique, it is sufficiently close so that the accuracy of the method performed by the apparatus is not significantly impaired.

It should be pointed out that the operator should exercise some care is using the appa ratus. Short jerky applications of torque should be avoided and torque should be ap plied as smoothly as possible.

While in the foregoing a preferred embodi ment of the invention has been disclosed, various modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

ber is being tightened and for providing a second indicating signal indicative thereof; and means responsive to said first and second indicating signals for providing a control sig nal.

Claims (1)

1. 2. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said checking means

   includes means for determining that the fastener is being rotated in the tightening direction.

   3. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said checking means further includes means for determining that a minimum pre determined torque is being applied to the fastener.

   4. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said checking means includes means for determining that the instantaneous torque being applied to the fastener at any point in the tightening cycle is at least a predeter mined percentage of the maximum torque applied up to that point in the tightening cycle.

   5. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 4 wherein said predetermined percentage is be tween substantially 24% and 75%.

   6. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 4 wherein said predetermined percentage is sub stantially 50%.

   7. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 4 wherein said checking means includes means for determining that the fastener is being rotated in the tightening direction by deter mining that a predetermined increment of rotation has been detected.

   8. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 7 wherein said checking means further includes means for determining that the fastener has been tightened into the tightening region of the torque-rotation curve that can be plotted for the fastener being tightened.

   9. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 7 wherein said checking means further includes means for determining that a predetermined minimum torque is being applied to the fas tener.

   10. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 1 including torque measuring means for mea suring the torque being applied to the fastener and for providing a signal representative thereof, angle measuring means for measur ing rotational displacement of the fastener and providing a signal representative thereof and CLAIMS incremental rotation detecting means for de 1. Apparatus for tightening a joint assem- termining when the fastener has been rotated bly including a fastener assembly to its yield 120 through predetermined increments of rotation point or other predetermined tightened condi- and providing a signal each time the fastener tion, said apparatus comprising wrench means has been rotated through the predetermined for applying torque to and rotating a fastener increment of rotation.

   member; control means operatively associated 11. Apparatus in accordance with Claim with said wrench means for detecting a phe- 125 10 wherein said control means includes oscil nomena indicative of the yield point of the lator means operative to provide a series of joint assembly and for providing a first indicat- output pulses each time a predetermined ing signal when said phenomena is detected; increment of rotation signal is prvided.

   checking means included in said control 12. Apparatus in accordance with Claim means for determining that the fastener mem- 130 11 wherein said incremental rotation detect- 9 GB 2 027 907A 9 ing means includes storage means operative to receive rotational displacement signals each time said oscillator means provides a pulse and for providing an output signal representa- tive of said stored rotational displacement signals, means for subtracting said storage means output signal from said rotational displacement signal and giving an output signal representative of the difference therebetween and comparator means responsive to said difference signal for determining when said difference signal is equal to a signal representative of the predetermined increment of rotation and for providing a signal operative to enable said oscillator means.

   13. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 12 including means holding said storage means inoperative when the value of said torque signal is less than a predetermined value.

   14. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 11 whdrein said control means further includes storage means operative to receive torque signals each time oscillator means pro- vides a pulse for providing an output signal representative of said stored torque signals and means for subtracting said output signal from said torque signal and giving an output signal representative of the difference there- between.

   15. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 14 wherein time delay means is operative associated with said oscillator means so that additional pulses are provided by said oscilla- tor means after a predetermined increment of rotational signal is provided.

   16. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 14 wherein said control means further includes additional storage means operative to receive said difference signal each time said oscillator means provides a pulse when said difference signal is larger than the previously stored signal for providing an output signal representative of said stored difference signals, and means for determining when said difference signal is a predetermined percentage of said stored difference signals.

   17. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 11 wherein said incremental rotation detect- ing means includes first storage means operative to receive rotational displacement signals each time said oscillator means provides a pulse for providing first output signal representative of said stored rotational displace- ment signals, means for subtracting said first output signal from said rotational displacement signal and providing a first signal representative of the difference therebetween and first comparator means responsive to said first difference signal for determining when said first difference signal is equal to a signal representative of the predetermined increment of rotation and for providing a signal operative to enable said oscillator means, said control means further including second storage means operative to receive torque signals each time said oscillator means provides a pulse for providing a second output signal representative of said stored torque signals, second means for subtracting said second output signal from said torque signal and giving a second signal representative of the difference therebetween, third storage means operative to receive said second difference signals each time said oscillator means provides a pulse if said second difference signal is larger than the signal previously stored in said third storage means for providing a third output signal representative of said stored second difference signals, and means for determining when said third output signal is a predetermined percentage of said second output signal.

   18. Apparatus for tightening a joint as- sembly including a fastener assembly to a predetermined tightened condition, said apparatus comprising wrench means for applying torque to and rotating a fastener; control means operatively associated with said wrench means for detecting the predetermined tightened condition and providing an output signal indicative thereof, said control means including measuring means for measuring rotational displacement of the fastener and providing a signal representative thereof and incremental rotation detecting means for determining when said fastener has been rotated through predetermined increments of rotation and for providing a signal indicative thereof; said incremental rotation detecting means including oscillator means operative to provide a series of output pulses, first comparator means and storage means, said first comparator means being arranged to receive said rotational displacement signal and a signal from said storage means for providing an output signal to gating means when said rotational displacement signal is larger than the signal from said storage means, substract- ing means arranged to receive said rotational displacement signal and said signal from said storage means for providing an output signal representative of the difference therebetween, second comparator means operative to deter- mine when said difference signal is a predetermined magnitude for providing an output signal to said oscillator means, said oscillator means providing a series of pulses to said gating means, whereby said gating means outputs pulses to said storage means when it receives signals from said first comparator means and said oscillator means.

   19. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 18 wherein said storage means comprises a digital to analogue convertor.

   20. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 18 wherein said control means includes means for determining when the instantaneous torque being applied to the fastener is less than a predetermined torque and provid- GB 2 027 907A 10 ing a signal holding said storage means inoperative when this condition has been met.

   21. Apparatus for tightening a joint assembly including a fastener assembly to a predetermined tightened condition, said apparatus comprising wrench means for applying torque to and rotating a fastener; control means operatively associated with said wrench means for detecting the predetermined tightened condition and providing an output signal indicative thereof, said control means including measuring means for measuring rotational displacement of the fastener and providing an analogue signal representative thereof, incremental rotation detecting means including digital to analogue convertor means responsive to said analogue signal when said fastener has been rotated through predetermined increments of rotation and means for detecting when said fastener has been rotated through predetermined increments of rotation.

   22. Apparatus for tightening a joint assembly including a fastener assembly, said apparatus comprising wrench means including a driver head adapted to be rotated and to tighten a fastener, and potentiometer means associated with said driver head for providing a signal representative of the rotation thereof, said potentiometer means including a resistor portion and a wiper arm portion. One of said portions being arrnged to rotate with said driver head and the other of said portions being associated with retaining means for holding said other portion from rotating.

   23. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 22 wherein said retaining means includes a flexible member carried by said other of said portions and further includes a clip for fixing said flexible member to a fixed reference member.

   24. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 23 wherein said flexible member is a cable.

   25. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 23 or 24 wherein said clip comprises a magnet.

   26. A control sustem usable in apparatus for tightening a joint assembly includirig a fastener assembly to its yield point or other tener assembly is being rotated in the tighten ing direction.

   28. A control system in accordance with Claim 27 wherein said checking means fur ther includes means for determining that a minimum predetermined torque is being ap plied to the fastener assembly.

   29. A control system in accordance with Claim 26 wherein said checking means in cludes means for determining that the instan taneous torque being applied to the fastener assembly is at least a predetermined percent age of the maximum torque applied up to that point in the tightening cycle.

   30. A control system in accordance with Claim 29 wherein said predetermined percent age is between substantially 25% and 75%.

   31. A control system in accordance with Claim 29 wherein said predetermined percent age is substantially 50%.

   32. A control system in accordance with Claim 29 wherein said checking means in cludes means for determining that the fas tener assembly is being rotated in the tighten ing direction by determining that a predeter mined increment of rotation has been de tected.

   33. A control system in accordance with Claim 32 wherein said checking means fur ther includes means for determining that the fastener assembly has been tightened into the tightening region of the torque-rotation curve that can be plotted for the fastener assembly being tightened.

   34. A control system in accordance with Claim 32 wherein said checking means fur ther includes means for determining that a predetermined minimum torque is being ap plied to the fastener assembly.

   35. A control system in accordance with Claim 26 including torque measuring means for measuring the reaction torque on said wrench means and for providing a signal representative thereof, angle measuring means for measuring rotational displacement of the fastener assembly and providing a signal representative thereof and incremental rotation detecting means for determining when the fastener assembly has been rotated predetermined tightened condition comprising 115 through predetermined increments of rotation control means formed to be operatively associ ated with the tightening apparatus for detect ing a phenomena indicative of the yield point of the joint assembly and for providing a first indicating signal when said phenomena is detected; checking means included in said control means for determining that the fas tener assembly is being tightened and for providing a second indicating signal indicative thereof; and means responsive to said first and second indicating signals for providing a control signal.

   27. A control system in accordance with Claim 26 wherein said checking means in cludes means for determining that the fas- 130 and providing a signal each time the fastener assembly has been rotated through the predetermined increment of rotation.

   36. A control system in accordance with Claim 35 wherein said control means includes oscillator means operative to provide a series of output pulses each time a predetermined increment of rotation signal is provided.

   37. A control system in accordance with Claim 36 wherein said incremental rotation detector means includes storage means operative to receive rotational displacement signals each time said oscillator means provides a pulse and to provide an output signal representative of said stored rotational displace- 11 GB2027-907A 11 1 ment signals, means for subtracting said output signal from said rotational displacement signal and giving an output signal representative of the difference and comparator means responsive to said difference signal for determining when it equals a signal representative of the predetermined increment of rotation and for providing a signal operating said oscillator means.

   38. A control system in accordance with Claim 37 including means holding said storage means inoperative when said torque signal is less than a predetermined torque.

   39. A control system in accordance with Claim 37 wherein said control means further includes storage means operative to receive torque signals each time said oscillator means provides a pulse and ro provide an output signal representative of said stored torque signals and means for subtracting said output signal from said torque signal and outputting a signal representative of the difference.

   40. A control system in accordance with Claim 39 wherein time delay means is opera- tive associated with said oscillator means so that additional pulses are provided after a predetermined increment of rotation signal is provided.

   41. A control system in accordance with Claim 39 wherein said control means further includes additional storage means operative to receive said difference signal each time said oscillator means provides a pulse when said difference signal is larger than the previously stored signal and to provide an output signal representative of said stored difference signals, and means for determining when said difference signal is a predetermined percentage of said stored difference signals.

   42. A control system in accordance with Claim 36 wherein said incremental rotation detector means includes first storage means operative to receive rotational displacement signals each time said oscillator means pro- vides a pulse and to provide a first output signal representative of said stored rotational displacement signals, means for subtracting said first output signal from said rotational displacement signal and providing a first signal representative of the difference and first comparator means responsive to said first difference signal for determining when it equals a signal representative of the predetermined increments of rotation and for providing a sig- nal operating said oscillator means, said control means further including second storage means operative to receive torque signals each time said oscillator means provides a pulse and to provide a second output signal -60 representative of said stored torque signals, second means for subtracting said second output signal from said torque signal and providing a second signal representative of the differende, third storage means operative to receive second difference signals each time said oscillator means provides a pulse when said second difference signal is larger than the signal previously stored in said third storage means and to provide a third output signal representative of said stored second difference signals, and means for determining when said third output signal is a predetermined percentage of said second output signals.

   43. Apparatus for tightening a joint as- sembly including a fastener assembly, said apparatus comprising wrench means including a driver head adapted to be rotated and to tighten a fastener, encoder means associated with said driver head for providing a signal representative of the rotation thereof, said encoder means including a first member fixed to said driver head for rotation therewith and a second member which is formed to remain stationary with respect to said first member, one of said first or second members including means for indicating rotational movement thereof and the other one of said first or second members including means for detecting the passage of said indicating means associated with said one of said first or second members.

   44. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 43 wherein said signal representative of rotation is a digital signal.

   45. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 43 wherein said means for indicating rotational motion is a member of relatively high inertia having groove means formed thereon at fixed intervals, said high inertia member formed to contact said other one of said first or second members with a relatively low amount of friction therebetween.

   46. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 43 wherein said detecting means includes optical transducer means.

   47. Apparatus for tightening a joint assembly including including a fastener assembly to its yield point or other pre-determined tightened condition, the apparatus being con- structed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

   Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess Et Son (Abingdon) Ltd.-1 980. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.